First Build

gotmotors · Jan 11, 2013

55 3100 Build

I thought I'd start a thread on my truck build. It's been about six months and haven't gotten as far as I would like but I'm sure having fun.
I've had an awful lot of help, advise and inspiration from the great folks here and I look forward to hearing from you.

So anyway, this is what I started with and it was mostly torn down when I got it. The PO lost interest and it sat for a few years in his garage. And before you ask, no I could NOT have found a rustier one!

Got the rest apart and started in on the frame, found a few spots where rust had gone through and had to make a patch or two.

Have the suspension mostly done now (C4) , just need to finsh up sway bar links and placement.

Sure wish I hadn't waited so long to take on a project like this, I am absolutely loving it! Finally got it back on wheels, man I like seeing the progress.

UPDATE: Here it is almost done five years later.

suede48 · Jan 11, 2013

I know what you mean about grinding skills !!! I go through way more grinding disc than I do any other supply's...:sign0020: Keep at it and enjoy what you are doing...

Restorit · Jan 11, 2013

Glad you are having fun with it......Looks great so far!:tu:tu

Eugene

jblack55 · Jan 11, 2013

:tu::tu on the front suspension it looks great and waiting to see the next bite of the Elephant :anim_25:

Erwin · Jan 11, 2013

What brand IFS is that? Send more pics more pics more pics...

carls 56 · Jan 11, 2013

nice work, looking good. :tu

r66ss · Jan 11, 2013

good job, continue keepn us posted and pics too:tu

BAM55 · Jan 11, 2013

gotmotors,

I'm glad to see you are starting a build thread. Is the IFS a Flatout Engineering cross member kit? Its a good choice and if I could to do mine over again thats the way I would go.

Everything is looking great so far and please keep the pics coming.

bruce wilcox · Sep 9, 2017

my home town

holy mackrell andy,,,ingelwood,,,my hometown in '53' we used to race on century blvd before people filled it up...bruce

gotmotors · Jan 12, 2013

Thanks for all the encouraging words. Yes, that is the flat-out engineering front and rear with the earlier 84-87 suspension. Some guy by the name of BAM recommended them very highly! Don at Flat-out is a real nice guy and doesn't mind giving your tips and help.

I only get to work on the truck about every other weekend because it's at my cabin. No room at home! When I get up here I'm on a mission though.

Mostly working on the cab this weekend but will post plenty of pics.

Erwin:
I'm still thinking of a cool tag line... NOW THAT'S FUNNY!

Suede48:
I spent about 2 hours today filling the the 1 inch gap between the a pillar and the cowl, grind, fill, hammer, grind, oops burned through, fill, grind, curse. The second one took me ten minutes...nice fresh flap disc. lol.

dinger57 · Jan 12, 2013

looking good :tu

Big Bob · Jan 12, 2013

Turning wrenches,having fun,feeling satisfied,and pressing on.It doesn't get any better than that.Your next break is on Super Bowl Sunday :sign0020:
Its looking good.:tu :tu :shakehands: :anim_25:
Big Bob:flag4::bowtieb:

gotmotors · Jan 13, 2013

Big Bob said:
Turning wrenches,having fun,feeling satisfied,and pressing on.It doesn't get any better than that.Your next break is on Super Bowl Sunday

You got that right Bob! God bless America! I did sneak out of the barn for a little bit today to watch my favorite QB throw it away. I won't name names. Ouch, man that one hurt.

56pickup · Jan 13, 2013

Sweet project, it is so much fun..
I've got a 50 50 chance but if you're talking about Manning I was so bummed..

gotmotors · Jan 15, 2013

Thanks man, it sure is fun. Yep, Peyton...

gotmotors · Jan 15, 2013

Made some progress this weekend, nothing really exciting but I got pictures! Everybody loves pictures!

Filled in the holes in the floor. I'm doing a 90 deg swing pedal, so don't need brake and clutch holes. I'm going to close up the column hole once I get it set.

Cleaned up the firewall a little more and shaved those felt gasket housings for the pedals down below.

Patched up a big hole where the PO had clearanced his shifter. Actually I did that a while ago. Come to think of it, that took way too long. Lots O bends! Really stiffened the floor back up though. Still have to patch the bottom side when I get the cab flipped.

Fixed another clearance job for another shifter I guess. I have a three inch offset on my shifter so it should put me in the clear for putting it the hole in the trans cover. My trans cover looks like swiss cheese, I think might be better off timewise just finding a replacement.

All in all the cab and doors are not in too bad of shape. Next is finishing steps and another cab corner and hanging doors.

mickeywestsr · Jan 15, 2013

Yep, the project is looking really good..........:congrats:
:gba:bowtie-trifive

angs1957 · Jan 15, 2013

Nothing like enjoying time on your build especially when things do not go according to plan, looks like your have a great time :tu

57-Z06 · Jan 15, 2013

The more I see these Tri-Five trucks, the more I want one. If I can muster another build, I'm thinking either a truck or a station wagon. Nice going!

gotmotors · Jan 15, 2013

Thanks a lot. It's a start, got a loooong way to go. Just looked up your 57 pictures and what a sweet looking ride! Great job. I love that tan and red.

56pickup · Jan 15, 2013

Thats funny, I have the same patch on my floor from a previous shifter location except mine was about 3-4 inches to the left, right into to floor reinforcement too. I also had a butchered trans cover, had like 3 to 4 different holes in it and it was the kind where someone took to the time to drill a thousand 3/8 holes to make the cutout, very jagged.. I bought a used one and welded up one quarter inch hole.

Looking at your pics doing all the metal work was the most fun I had, kinda miss that part now, looking sweet though!

57-Z06 · Jan 15, 2013

Thank you very much. I've had the 57 on the road for a couple years now, and enjoying every minute. Keep up the good work.

gotmotors · Jan 31, 2013

Another bite out of the elephant!

Steps and cab corners.
Made a little more progress last weekend. As usual, not as much as I planned, but I need to be thankful I didn't have any screw ups I guess and keep focused on each "bite".

Found a spot a while back where the wire brush just ate through some weak metal. Glad that happened or I might not have seen it. It didn't show at all from the top side.

A little repair in the other end of the step support, which I also forgot about.

Finally, getting to the thing I started out to do

Took a tip from a Brothers tech article - step goes over the floor flange instead of under for a little cleaner look. Well, once I clean it up.

mickeywestsr · Jan 31, 2013

Good looking welding & body work. :congrats:
:gba:
bowtie-trifive

gotmotors · Jan 31, 2013

On to the other side. I bought the taller patch panels but probably didn't need to. Better safe than sorry.

I found it much easier to cut out the bulk of the step, leaving about two inches all they way around before drilling out the spot welds. I removed the first one in one big piece and looking back, that was really dumb! Oh well, you learn.

And this picture really made me feel pretty darn good.

And this one

Especially this one. Got it in the ten ring!

nev68 · Jan 31, 2013

Nice work, and I like the rally rims.:tu

BAM55 · Jan 31, 2013

looking nice buddy. Keep the pics coming.

55 tahoe · Jan 31, 2013

WOW really looks good, nothing better than working on a project

Restorit · Jan 31, 2013

Looking great so far....very nice work! Thanks for the pics.:tu:tu:anim_25: with the rest of the build.

Eugene

gotmotors · Jan 31, 2013

Thanks Eugene, will keep them pics a coming.

tahoe1955 said:
WOW really looks good, nothing better than working on a project

Well maybe one thing, but it's a close second! Thanks.

BAM55 said:
looking nice buddy. Keep the pics coming.

You know I will! Sometimes I wonder if some of this stuff is even worthy of posting up, but EVERYBODY loves pictures! Thanks. Oh, thanks for the link to the third brake light. Just arrived yesterday. I want to see if I can sneak it in behind the dome light. Might be a little tight up there though.

nev68 said:
Nice work, and I like the rally rims.:tu

Thanks Nev68 I appreciate the kind words. I love rally's too, but they'll eventually get replaced with something that shows off the discs and calipers.

mickeywestsr said:
Good looking welding & body work. :congrats:
:gba:
bowtie-trifive

Thanks Mickey. But you know I try really hard not to post up any pics of my raw welds. :sign0020:

gotmotors · Feb 26, 2013

Finally making some forward progress. I had a little hiccup in my cab corner and it was short by a 1/4" or so, so after all that cutting, welding and grinding I got to do it all over again. I had plenty of metal left from the first cut so I welded it back on so I could cut it back off. :banghead: Oh well it was good practice and it just made me work harder to make up the time.

Funny how well the other step fits this time

Closed off the floor inside because I won't be using the inner corners. A couple of quick welds and some seam sealer and life will be good.

Got the inner fenders cut and fit for clearance of the upper A arms. I'll have to double check with suspension fully collapsed but I think I'll have enough of an opening.

Third brake light went in way too easy. The kit comes with a steel face plate with a perfect cut out that you're supposed to weld in but I figured it would be a lot easier to just cut the slot into the back of the cab. If I messed that up I could always use the plate and never tell you all this story. :sign0020:

I'll post some more of the back side of the light housing next.

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